Food additive · Preservative (sulfite)
Potassium metabisulfite
- E-number
- E224
A sulfite preservative used in wine and fruit products.
- Food additive
- Preservative
- Expert review pending
Concern level
Strong evidence of harm at high intake, emerging evidence of harm, or a common allergen or irritant. The concern level sets how many points potassium metabisulfite costs on a product’s receipt.
What the evidence says
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Sulfite sensitivityRegulatory
Sulfites must be declared above 10 mg/kg in the EU and UK and at 10 ppm or more in the US because some people, especially people with asthma, react to them. [1][2][3]
Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.
Rules around the world
| Where | Status | Details | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union | Restricted | Permitted in listed foods; must be declared as an allergen above 10 mg/kg (as SO2). | — | [1] |
| United States | Permitted | Must be declared at 10 ppm or more (21 CFR 101.100(a)(4)). | — | [3] |
“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.
Popular products that list potassium metabisulfite
15 of the 17,000 most-scanned products in the US with a GoodSwap page list potassium metabisulfite. The 12 most scanned:
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Coconut Juice 520 ml Foco · 1.12 - 2.10 Score 58 out of 100 Okay -
Alfredo Sauce Bertolli · 15 oz (425 g) Score 48 out of 100 Okay -
Coconut Milk Goya · 400 mL Score 79 out of 100 Good -
Coconut Water with Pulp Goya · 240 mL Score 50 out of 100 Okay -
Garlic Alfredo Bertolli · 15 oz Score 33 out of 100 Poor -
Kosher Dill Mt. Olive · 16 fl oz (1 pt) 473 mL Score 27 out of 100 Poor -
100% Grape Juice White Grape Welch's · 1.89 L Score 47 out of 100 Okay -
Red Wine Vinegar Star Score 93 out of 100 Excellent -
Kosher Petite Dills Mt. Olive · 28 g Score 27 out of 100 Poor -
Lemon Juice, Bottled Italia · 4 fl oz/118 mL Score 93 out of 100 Excellent -
100% Concord Grape Juice Kedem · 64 fl oz Score 55 out of 100 Okay -
Snack'mms Kosher Dill Vlasic · 16 fl oz Score 50 out of 100 Okay
Diets and allergens
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
- Gluten-free
- Yes
- Allergen
- Sulphites
For the ingredient in general. Always check the package: a product’s own labels win.
Names GoodSwap recognizes on labels (7)
- e224
- antioxidant e224
- potassium metabisulfite
- potassium metabisulphite
- antioxidant potassium metabisulphite
- preservative potassium metabisulfite
- preservative potassium metabisulphite
Sources
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Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers
“ANNEX II SUBSTANCES OR PRODUCTS CAUSING ALLERGIES OR INTOLERANCES 1. Cereals containing gluten, namely: wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut or their hybridised strains”
eur-lex.europa.eu
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“1. Cereals containing gluten, namely: wheat (such as spelt and khorasan wheat), rye, barley, oats or their hybridised strains, and products thereof”
legislation.gov.uk